Speed bumps on Wilkin Road and Mt Iron Drive designed to slow traffic are being removed permanently, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says. 

The speed bumps were installed as a traffic calming measure for cars approaching the active route currently under construction on Anderson Road, but they have led to complaints from residents over noise and safety concerns.

“Over the past few months we’ve continued to monitor the speed humps for how effective they are at slowing people down,” QLDC said in a post shared on social media. 

“And while they’ve worked, they’ve also led to a fair bit of noise, and a few complaints too.”

In late September QLDC media and channels advisor Sam White said road traffic engineers had received at least 15 or more complaints about the speed bumps, which feed onto Anderson Road, with some complainants citing near misses.

Read more: Council brushes off concerns over speed bumps

At the time, QLDC said the bumps met the standard set by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and, while temporary, they would likely remain in place for a few years. 

QLDC had planned to remove the speed bumps temporarily while resealing for the active travel route took place, but it has now decided they won’t be reinstalled afterwards.

Sam said he didn’t have anything to add to the information shared on social media.

The active travel route that prompted the speed humps is nearing completion.

The $1.2M shared pathway along Anderson Road will feature a variety of road crossing and a chip seal surface.

At its northern end, it will connect with the recently sealed cycleway down Aubrey Road from Albert Town past Northlake. 

QLDC will be adding permanent safety features near the pathway in the future. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App